Roma Refugee Organisation

Extract from Jan Demeter's speech to the founding conference of the Roma Refugee Organisation in London.

"What are our 'democratic governments' doing? They proclaim there is no racial hatred, and that whatever happens is only a local difficulty. Is this true?

Isn't it true that we cannot get accepted for a job because we are Roma? Isn't it true that we cannot get served in a restaurant precisely because we are Roma? Isn't it true that when there is a cultural or sporting event we cannot attend because none of us wants to risk it? How is it part of a local difficulty when racially motivated murders have taken place as far apart as Pisek, Prague, Pilsen, Ostrava, Vreclav and many other places all over the Czech Republic and Slovakia? Is it absolutely normal that our houses are being burned down?

It is well known that there is a strongly organised movement of skinheads in the Czech Republic. They walk the streets in uniforms displaying swastikas and other fascist and racist symbols, and armed like a commando raid. What do the police do? Nothing.

Some MPs are publicly inciting the people of their countries to hatred and brutal attacks on Roma. You can openly buy publications with racist and fascist texts. Anyone can read them for instructions on how best to attack the Roma, abuse them and beat them.

This is the real truth. All of it is happening in our homeland, and this is how we suffer. That is why we ask the United Kingdom and its people not to reject us. Don't send us back to places where we will be threatened with danger."

Contact: Roma Refugee Organisation, 1B Waterlow Rd N19.

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